The exclusion of Arshdeep Singh from India's playing XI for the first T20I against Australia in Canberra sparked considerable debate, and the question remains: will he be picked for the second T20I in Melbourne?.
Dinesh Karthik has weighed in on the matter, suggesting that India might stick with the same lineup from the rain-affected match in Canberra, which would mean Arshdeep missing out again. Karthik believes the team management is keen on bolstering the batting depth by including Harshit Rana at No. 8, especially with Nitish Kumar Reddy unavailable due to injury.
Several factors contribute to this selection dilemma. Arshdeep, despite being India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is, has struggled to cement his place in the playing XI. He was often benched during the Asia Cup, only featuring in less significant matches.
The team management, under head coach Gautam Gambhir, has shown a willingness to experiment and prioritize batting depth. This was evident in the first T20I, where Harshit Rana was preferred over Arshdeep, signaling the importance of Rana's batting abilities. Furthermore, the inclusion of three spinners in Canberra – Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy – highlighted the team's faith in spin, even in conditions that might favor pace.
However, the conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) could influence the decision for the second T20I. The MCG pitch might demand an extra pacer, potentially opening the door for Arshdeep. If the team decides to rotate the squad, Arshdeep could replace either Chakaravarthy or one of the other pacers. His inclusion would offer a left-arm option and enhance the team's death-bowling capabilities.
Former cricketer Parthiv Patel also believes that Arshdeep Singh will remain out of the playing XI for the second T20I against Australia. Patel stated that the team management seems to prefer two wrist-spinners to handle the middle overs and wants a competent batsman at number eight, a role Harshit Rana is likely to fulfill.
While Arshdeep's talent and skills are undeniable, integrating him into the lineup remains a challenge given the team's current preferences. The team may need to devise a method to include Arshdeep in future matches.
India's predicted XI for the 2nd T20I: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav/Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
